Observation Army

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An observation army (also: observation corps or observation corps ) is an army set up by a neutral state for political reasons.

The purpose of such an observation army can be of various types:

• direct protection of the state border when acts of war develop in the vicinity
• Fulfillment of neutrality obligations, e.g. B. by imprisoning defectors
• Support for a diplomatic operation by armed threat

In the past, military units were called observation armies that were set up by those involved in war operations for military or political reasons. In military terms, they were used, for example, for the eventual use to siege a fortress or to repel an advancing relief army . An observation corps had to be able to conduct independent battles. An observation corps set up for political purposes should "if necessary start the war, possibly reject an enemy army [..]" .

The Economic Encyclopedia (1773-1858) defined an observation army as:

"An army which initially has the purpose of observing another, from which one suspects hostile intentions, or an enemy that has already been declared, and to oppose it if necessary."

- Johann Georg Krünitz (Ed.), Oeconomische Encyclopädie (1773-1858)

An example of a (historical) observation army was the Hanover Observation Army, which was formed in 1757 . At the beginning of the Seven Years' War it numbered around 47,000 men with 22 heavy artillery pieces. Of these, Kurhannover provided 27,000 men, Hessen-Kassel 12,000 men, Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel 6,000 men, Schaumburg-Lippe 1,200 men and Saxe-Gotha 800 men. The commander-in-chief was William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland , son of George II , King of Great Britain and Elector of Braunschweig-Lüneburg (Hanover). The Hanoverian Observation Army was defeated by the French in the Battle of Hastenbeck and was dissolved by the Zeven Monastery in accordance with the Convention .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Meyers Konversations-Lexikon , Verlag des Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig and Vienna 1888, p. 2707 , digital at: Peter Hug (peter-hug.ch)
2. ^ Krünitz project , online version of the University of Trier
3. ↑ L. (Luis Heinrich F.) von Sichart: History of the Royal Hanoverian Army (1631–1803), 4 vols., Hanover 1866–1871, vol. 3 (1870), p. 233